POTD: Matt Lawton

. By The Numbers, Dept. .280/.380/.400/.780 - Mark McLemore's AVG/OBP/SLG/OPS in his glory 2001-2002 years in Seattle .273/.377/.428/.805 - Matt Lawton vs RHP, 2005 .277/.372/.436/.808 - Lawton vs RHP, 2003-2005 .268/.348/.466/.814 - Jacque Jones vs RHP, 2005 .280/.333/.474/.807 - Jones vs RHP, 2003-2005 801 - Career OPS, Raul Ibanez 791 - OPS, Raul Ibanez, 2005 Lawton - Who has had a higher OPS vs RHP, 2003-2005, Lawton or Jacque Jones ;-) $16m - Jones' contract $400k - Lawton's contract Yes - Is Jones better with the glove than Lawton No - Is corner OF defense worth $16 million No - Would Ozzie Smith's defense be worth $16 million 145 - strikeouts, Lawton, vs RHP, last 3 years 140 - walks, Lawton, vs RHP, last 3 years OBP - What is Matt Lawton's specialty OBP - What do the Seattle Mariners need 97 - runs per 650 plate appearances, Lawton, 2003-2005 (vs RHP) 23.2 - VORP, Lawton, Pittsburgh (445 PA's) -10 - approximate VORP from #10 slot, M's, 2005 Yes - Is it typical for a 34-year-old lefty to have trouble getting around on LHP's No - Does Matt Lawton project to have trouble with RHP's in 2006 1.6 - Lawton's groundball ratio (1.1 average) 15-20 - Lawton's HR range in fulltime play 16-20 - Raul Ibanez' HR totals, last 3 years Yes - Is "topspin" hitting valuable in Safeco $400,000 - What is Lawton guaranteed for 2006 Bench - Does $400k suggest that Lawton is scheduled to start . Now That's What I'm TALKIN' About, Dept. If platooned as a lefthanded hitter, Matt Lawton is comparable in value to Raul Ibanez. Lawton has less power (RBI), but more speed/OBP (R). Overall it's a wash. Again, if used as a 300-400 AB hitter in the 10 slot, Matt Lawton figures to add the Mark McLemore dimension to the 2006 Mariners -- a three-four-days-a-week sub who, instead of giving you an automatic out, gives you a plus hitter. Most managers like to use their bench to reinforce their leadership. If you have a Willie Bloomquist and a Greg Dobbs sitting next to you, your position as "Skip" is a little more secure. But for managers who are willing to reinforce their own leadership, the Earl Weaver / Lou Piniella type of manager -- if a ballclub is willing to put a legit bat in the 10 slot, it can smack down an extra 30 runs. Easy as pie. D-O-V has wanted a #10 bat since 2002. If Matt Lawton is it, he is as important an addition as would be a #3 starting pitcher. BABVA, Dr D